Electric grounding connection



y 1929- w. H. VIBBER ELECTRIC GROUNDING CONNEC TION Filed Feb. 6, 1925 Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WHEELER H. VIBIBER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ACSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE GILLETTE-VIBBER (30., OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC GROUNDING CONNECTION.

Application filed February 6, 1925. Serial No. 7,373.-

This invention relates to ground connections of electric wiring systems and metallic electrical conduits to grounded pipes, such as the ordinary water piping system of a building, or a pipe or rod specially driven for the purpose. The principal object of the invention is to provide means for insuring a permanent and reliable grounding contact connection of the grounding Wire and metallic conduit with the grounded pipe, the means to attain this end also including provision for clamping and connecting the grounding conduit which encases the grounding wire securely in pre-determined relation to the grounded pipe. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the distinc tive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims. I

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. 1 is an elevation with a portion in section showing one embodiment of the invention and showing a portion of a grounded pipe and of a grounding conduit.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing still another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section thereof on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing still another form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section thereof on line 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 indicates a grounded conductor such as an ordinary water pipe. This conductor pipe has secured thereto at a selected point a clasp band 11 of suitable conductive metal such as copper. This clasp band has ears 12, 18 projecting at one side thereof, the car 13 be ing shown as having a turned-in extremity 13 extending in parallelism with, and adjacent the ear 12. Through apertures of these ears a screw 14 is passed, this screw being selected in size according to the size of the pipe, the clasp being adjustable in this way so as to fit different sizes of pipe. This. screw is threaded through a strap ex.-

tremity 15 of a bracket 15, which thus serves or bracket 15 and the clasp-band 11 enables the bracket 15 to be pivotally adjusted about the screw 14 so that the grounding conduit may be disposed at various angles with respect to the pipe 10. The clasp-band 11 is provided with spaced apart apertures 16 through which an exposed end portion 17 of a conductor wire is adapted to be passed so as to lie within the clasp 11 in position to be clamped strongly and securely against the pipe 10 as the clasp is thus tightened thereupon. This grounding wire is encased by a grounding conduit pipe 18 which may be of usual type. In accordance with my invention a threaded extremity 18 of this grounding conduit is engagedin a threaded socket 15* which forms apart of the bracket 15 and hence clamped immovably to the pipe 10, by means of the strap portion 15 by the same adjustment of the screw 14 which secures the clasp 11 to the pipe.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a form of the invention employing a clasp-band 111 which is provided with ears 112, 113 through which is passed a clamp screw 114 which draws up the clasp-band onto the pipe 10 with an exposed sect-ion of the conductor wire 117 intcrposed underneath an angular extent of said clasp-band as already described. In this case the bracket member 115 is fashioned from a continuous strap of metal which has one extremity bent and tapped to form a nut portion 115 which engages the screw 114, thence said strap extends outward and is bent to form a circular holder or socket 115 in which the protective conductor 18 is engaged and preferably screwed, thence the extremity of the strap extends inward to form an ear 119 in which a clamp screw 120 is threaded to prevent the socket from opening and to hold it clasped upon the pipe 18.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a form of the invention where the grounding pipe 10 has fitted thereon two spaced apart clasp-bands 211, 211'. These clasps have ears 212, 213 through which is passed a clamp screw 214 the same as already described. The clamp screws on each of the clasp-bands engage oppositely extending extremities 215 of a strap hanger 215 which has an intermedlate portion the threaded extremity thereof bent to form a circular socket 215 which may be internally threaded to receive of the grounding conduit 18. The clasp-bands 211, .211 are provided with spaced apart apertures216 per- Initting an exposed end portion 217 of the conductor wire to be passedthrough the apertures of one clasp and then of the other to be pressed against the pipe 10 as already described. y

In Figs. 7 and8 there are also two clasp- Ibands 311, 311 provided with ears 312, 313 through which is assed a clamp screw'314: as already describe 'In this form the screws 314 are threaded into one side 315 of an angular zplate 315, the 'other side 315 of which has .a threaded opening'into which the end of the conduit pipe 18 is threaded The clasps in this casehave spaced apart apertures 316 to receive an exposed portion 317 of the conductive wire 317 which in this form, and as in the form of Figs. 5 and 6, may be looped aroundso as to be engaged underneath both of the "clasp bands. The angular plate 315 mayibeprovided with threaded apertures318, at the opposite side thereof from those with which the screws 314are shown as engaged, so that the clasp bands for attachment to the water pipe maybe applied to either side or end ofithe angular plate as may be most convenient.

The described fitting is adapted for use not only in connecting a grounding conduit with a-grounded water pipe or the'like, but it can also be used for connecting a grounding conduit to a pipe or rod specially driven toserve as agrounded element. The fitting :is-also adapted to The used without the .use of any ground wire. When so used it is employed for grounding the metallic conduit that would contain the circuit wires. It may also be employed when it maybe desired to connecttwo conduits together, and also in cases where it might be necessary or desirable to connect two conduits together with .thegrounding conduit connected between the two fittings at an angle. The fittingshown in Figs. 1and2 is adapted for this purpose, itibeing noted that the socket 15 has "its inner extremity rounded so as to provide clearance for angular adjustment with reference to the clasp. The form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is likewise adapted for such angular adjust- .ment, and likewise the forms of Figs. 5 and 6,

and 7 and 8, it being only necessary in these latter .forms to bend or twist the strap ihanger .inembers to a ,greater or less extent, which is easily possible since ,these are made of a steel adapted to standsuch bending.

I aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific 'forms without departing from .the spirit oressential attributes .thereozf, and Itherefore desire thepresent em- !bodiment to .be considered in all respects .as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric ground connection comprising a conducting pipe, a clasp-band looped around the pipe and having out-turned and apertured ends opposed to .each other, a grounding conduit bearing a conductor wire having an exposed end inserted between the clasp-band and the pipe, a socket holder in which one end of the conduit is secured, and a binding screw extending through the apertured ends of the clasp-band and having threaded engagement with a portion of the socket holder to clamp the band and the conductor wire to the conductor pipe and to secure the socket holder to the band, the

binding screw and the parts engaged thereby being constructed and arranged to permit angular adjustment of the socket holder relativel to clasp-band.

2. in electric ground connection comprising a grounded conductor pipe, a clasp-band wrapped around the pipe, said band having out-turned ends arranged oppositeeach other and an aperture located between said ends, a

grounding conduit, a socket holder in which one end of the conduitis secured, a conductor wire carried bythe grounding conduit and having an exposed end extending from said conduit to the outside of the'clasp-bandand thence through said aperture to a position between the clasp-band and the pipe, and tightening means passed through the outturned ends of the clasp-band and engaged in a portion of the socket holder detachably to secure the socket holder to the-clasp-band and rigidly to clampthe clasp-band and the conductor wire to the conductor pipe.

3. An electric ground connection comprising a conducting pipe, a clasp-band looped around the pipe andhaving out-turned and apertured ends, opposed to each other, a grounding conduit carrying a conductor wire having an exposed end extending from the end of the conduit, a socket holder in which said conduit end is secured, a binding screw extending through the apertured endsof the clasp-band and having threaded engagement with a portion ofthe socket holder toclamp the band to the conductor pipe and to secure the socket holder to the band,-the binda conducting pipe and having out-turned ends opposed to each other, a grounding-con conductor duit carrying a conductor Wire having an gular adjustment of the socket holder relaexposed end, a socket holder for securing tively to the clasp-band, and means for sethe end of the conduit, unitary means for curing the said exposed end of the conductor 1 clamping the band to the conductor pipe and wire to said clasp-band.

5 for securing the socket holder to the said In testimony whereofI affix my signature.

out-turned ends of the band, said means being constructed and arranged to permit an WHEELER H. VIBBER. 

